Charles g



(No Model.)

C. G. PERKINS,

PUSIBLB GUT-OUT FOR INGANDESGBNT ELECTRIC LAMPS. No. 348,049. PatentedAug. 24, 1886.

WITNESSBS: INVBNTOR UNITED STATESl PATENT OFFICEu CHARLES G. PERKINS, OFNEV YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO THE IMPERIAL ELEC/TRIO LIGHT COMPANY, OFSAME PLACE.

FUSEBLE CUT-OUT FOR INCANDESCENT ELECTRIC LAMPS.

SPECIFICATION forming peut of Letters Patent No. 348,049, dated August24,1886.

(No model.`

T all whom, it may concern:

Beit known that I, CnAnLEs G. PERKiNs, a citizen of the United States,residing at New York, in the county ol' New York and State of New York,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fusible Gut-Outsfor Electric Incandescent Lamps; and I do hereby declare the followingto be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such aswill 1o enable others skilled in the art to which it appcrtains to makeand use the same.

My invention relates to fusible cut-outs for electric incandescentlamps, and has for ils object, in common with other inventions of itsclass, to provide, in connection with every lamp and in close proximitythereto, means whereby the lamp is automatically cut out when there isan excess of current on theline.

My improvement consists, mainly, in so con- 2@ structing such cut-outsthat itshall be mechanically impossible to push the safety-plugs intoplace without making the proper electrical contacts, that the contacts,when made, shall be electrically good, and that thesafety-plugs shall beeasy ot' restoration in case of destruction in use or from any cansewhatever.

A secondary object of my improvement is to make a necessary attachmentto an electric incandescent lamp serve also as an ornament 3o whenmounted for use.

In order to enable others to make and use my invention, I will nowdescribe its construetion, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, in which Figure l represents an incandescent lamp andlamp-socket, together with my improved cut-out and a device for couplingit to an electrolier or bracket. Fig. 2 is a vertical section of myimproved cut-out, and it also shows in to section the coupling devicementioned above. Fig. 3 is a plan of myimproved cut-out. Fig. 4 is aperspective of the safety plug which forms a part of my cut-out, andFig. 5 is a detail of one part ofthe coupling device.

The lamp A and thesocket I3 may be of any ordinary construction, thoughI have shown my multiple carbon lamp and my socket having switchoperating mechanism projecting through its side.

The lamp and the socket form no part of my present invention, and arenot claimed in this application.

C is my cut-out, and itconsists of an inclosing insulating-ball, I), anda removable safety- 1.ilng,E,containcd within a cavity in the same. Theinsulating-ball carries the usual circuitterminals, and has secured toit the screwthreaded top and bottom pieces, d d, for attachment,respeetivcly,to the lamp-socket and the lamp fixture or support. Theterminals consist in this instance of the rings e e, connected by thewire w', and the pins or screws h 7L', which make contact, when thecut-cutis in position, with correspondingrings and pins in the socketand support. The safety-plug E carries the contactsprings m in formaking electrical contact with the pins 7L 7L when the plug is pushedinto place. The pins 7L h project into the space occupied by thesafety-plug E far enough to make contact with the springs. Athumb-piece, n, on the safety-plug Il] furnishes convenient means forwitlulrawing` it or putting it into its place at will. A fusible wire,w, joins the two springs in in', and is held in place by the same screwswhich attach the springs to the plug. To give greater length andresistance to the safetywire it may be passed, as shown, through aperforation, s, eX- tending through the body of the plug. It will ofcourse be understood that the pins 71. It and and the rings c e formparts, respectively, of the direct and return circuits of the lamp,which, being understood, it is also clear that the safety-wire wnormally' formsa part ofthe lamp-circuit, and thatit will be fused ormelted in case the current on thelamp-eircuit becomes excessive. Theplug E has notches on oppoJ site sides, as shown, and these notchesreceive the ends of the springs m m and those of the pins h 7L', theplug having suitable depressions to allow the springs some play. Thenotches serve as guides to carry the springs always into contact withthe pins h h', as the plug cannot be pushed into place until the notchescome into line with the said pins. The rings e e are in reality springswhich are attached at one end to the insulating-ball countersunk in thesame for the greater part of their length, and raised at the oppositeend to form a spring contact with countersunk IOC electric-lamp iixture.

rings on the socket and fixture, respectively. The shading in Fig. 3shows the raised end of the spring.

Thetop and bottom pieces, d d', will usually be made after an ornamentalpattern, and

these, taken in connection with the ball, will -to the end of abracket-arm and to the bottom of the cut-out. I isan insulating-pieceadapted to fit into the upper part of the ring 0, and having the pinorpdiskY terminal 71l and the counter-sunk ring terminale, to the,

former of which the wire W is attached, and to the latter the wire WV.To make the connection, the ring O is iirst secured in place on afixture, andthe insulating-piece T fitted loosely in the ring. The cutout is then screwed down, and the circuit is complete through wire WV,pin h, pin h', spring m', safety-wire w, spring m, pin h, up through thelamp, when the switch is in the right posil tion, and back through ringe, wire w,ring e',

ring e, and wire W.

The coupling device above described is not claimed herein, as it formsthe subject of a distinct application filed atthe same time herewith,and covering a coupling device for electrical conductors.

I have represented my ring O as being provided with screwthreadsforjoining it to the lamp-support and to the cut-out; but any othersuitable means of attachment may be employed, if preferred.

So far as my present invention is concerned I do not desire that it belimited by the fact that I show it in connection with my couplingdevice, as my cut-out may be used with other coupling devices or it maybe joined directly to the end of a iiXture-ar'm,if the arm is suitablyconstructed. In fact, my coupler, when secured in position, becomes theend of the supporting-arm, and for present purposes may be regarded asapermanent part thereof.

Owing. to the fact that the pins or screws h h extend into the notchesin the plug, that is extend beyond the outer surface thereof, theplugcannot be thrust into place until it has been turned so. as to bringthe notches into line with the pins or screws. When it has been soturned, it can easily be pushed in, as the springs will yield on beingpushed against the rounded ends of the pins.- VBy reason of theirresiliency they will then preserve good electrical contact with thepins.

Having now described my invention, what I claim,and desi rc to secure byLetters Patent, 1s-

The combination, with a safety-plug having notches, substantially asdescribed, of contactsprings located within the notches andcircuitterminals adapted to projectinto the notches, whereby the plug isprevented from being pushed into place until the contacts are in line,and whereby spring connection is preserved between the contacts when theplug is in position.

In testimony whereof I aix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES G. PERKINS.

` Witnesses: y

GEO. C. COFFIN, GEO. C. WILDE.

